Generator suspension



29, 192%. r E. J. BLAKE 1'503'086 GENERATQR SUSPENSION Filed Oct. 29, 1921 3 sheets sheet l ,4 TTORNE Y July 29 1924; 1,503,086

E. J. BLAKE GENERATOR SUSPENSION Filed Oct. 29, 1921 s heets-Sheet 2 11v VENTOR ATTORNEY E. J. BLAKE GENERATOR SUSPENSION a Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001.. 29, 1921 INVENYZ/R l .4 TTORNEY Patented July 29, I924.

ELI J. BLAKE, or BUFFALO, new YORK, assrenoa' r GOULD COUPLER COMPANY,

A CORPORATION or new ZQRK.

GENERATOR SUSPENSION.

Application filed October 29, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI J. BLAK a citizen of the United States, and resident of Bufialo in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Generator Suspensions, of-which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in generator suspensions, more particularly for use on railway oars where an electric generator is used for lighting purposes. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and elfective arrangement for suspending the generator beneathv the body of the car and maintaining the belt by which the generator is driven from the car axle under suitable tension. Other objects of the invention relate to improved combinations of parts and constructional elements and details, all as will be more fully described in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In order that a clearer understanding of 25. the invention maybe had attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and illustrating one embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, 7

Fig. 1 represents aside view of part of a railway car having one'form of the invention applied thereto, one member being shown in section; p v v r Fig. 2 is an end view of parts shown'in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; w Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4 40fFig.1; Fig. 5 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 showing a modified form of construotion; Fig. 6 is an end view-of parts shown in '5 Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 6; and i Fi 8 is a section taken on Fig. i.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the draw? ings, the generator 1 is shown as supported by a pair of support rods 2 2, from an adapter casting 3 which swingsupon a hinge 'or pivot pin 4 which is mounted in the pending arms of the yoke casting 5. The

latter rests upon the channel 6 which is -at line 8 8 or Serial No. 511,373.

tached to the car body, one of the longi tudinal beams of the car body being indicated at 6 7 7 1 The generator 1 is adapted to be driven from a car axle by means of a belt indicated 7 at 7 extending around a suitable pulley 8 secured to the shaft of the generator. It is not deemed necessary to illustrate herein the car axle to which belt 7 extends, the axle,

however, being considered as located to the right of the generator as viewed in Fig. 1.

During conditions of operation the generator will swing about hinge pin 4 towards and away from the car axle in the well knownm anne r. The yoke 5 may be centered on a bolt 9 and may be aligned with the axle by aligning screws 10 which are threaded through suitable openings in a castingll attached to the lower side of the channel 6.

In the construction illustrated the tension a hook 13 which is hooked through an eye 1e formed at the lower end of a hook member 15. This hook member may beisupported by hanging theJsamexover one of the flanges of the suspension yoke 55, this flange having a notch formed thereinin which the hook member 15 rests. The stem portion of hook member 15 projects through suitable openings formed in thewebs of yoke 5 and of channel 6. Y

In the constructionillustrated the opposite or lower end of spring 12 is finished as spring 12 by drawingbar 16 down toward or against itsseat on the flange 18of bracket 19. The double hook arrangement at the lower end of the spring forms an efii'ective abutment against which bar1-6 presses,the details spring 12 is provided at its upper end with .95 provided for the-purpose of extending of this arrangement being indicated in Figs.

3 and 4:, in which it will be noted that surfaces are provided against which the bar 'or rod 16 m'ay rest withthe hooked endportions of thespring below thesame.

i It will be noted'that with this arrange-- ment the tension spring extends downwardly V at a steep angle, greater than 45 to the horizontal, from aconneotion with the car body a substantial component arran e-fem spring acts upwardly at all times so asto op pose the weight of the generator to a,con-

siderable extent. Accordingly the combined spring and gravity load on the hinge pin 4 is correspondingly reduced. Y

Spring 12 Wlll of course,;at the sametimje tend to swing the generator aroun-cli it's pivotal support at the hinge pin 4*- in, the direction away from the car axle, ,a-Wtith this arrangement the tension :oirthe: belt will remain more, or less substantially constant throughout the normal range of movement of the generator asfthe latter.swings back and, forth, as thei-idis tance between the drivingfaxle and the pivot ewofthe generator varies; As the generator-swine towardsythe axle; thewweiglit ofnthegenc ator tendingto swing;1'baek;;tends to main:- tain the tension of theabelt-and theet'ei' s ien :of thespring is also-somewhat increased, but atthe same time the lever, HZIffiifiO illlB end of which the springs-is applied is correspondingly reduced, ;the: lever arm referred to being, of icourse,.the perpendicular distance between the axis of the springand theaxis of the hinge pin 4.. Siinila rly as the generator swings: away" from 'the car axle that isto theleftprefefrrihgto Fig; :1', the tensioniofthe spring will be somewhat reduced but at=the-same time-the. leverarm of the spring will be i-ncreasech -whi'le the weightof the generator tends to decrease tension on the belt. These-various factors may be so related as tomaintain more or less" approximately constant belt tension as stated, with the added advantage of causing the upwardwpull of the spring to decrease the load on the hinge pin a- Another featureof the inventionconsists in the provision of a screw jaek arranged to force the generator forwardly against Y the action of spring 12 when theb'elt iszto be applied to theipulley on the gneratorv-and the corresponding pulley. on thecanaxle.

In the arrangement shownin the'drawings the sleeve v201ispivotally:mounted on one of the supportzrods 3' Sleeve be properly located longitudinally of t'h e support rod 2bymeans of pipelspa'e er 2-1 positioned; on rod 2 -b etween =-sleves20 and the opposite supporting armof casting 3; Sleeve 20 isinternally--tl1readed and is adapted to receive semen-s ivhichextends out. of the upper end of the sleeveand is provided with r-a =irig idp hand e ivvheel 23; Screw 22- :is provided withyan extensionfla of-. .reduced diameter which passes loosely through an opening iin channeletl iorwthe purpose of properly :locatingnand position.-

'the;'-1.devic e JL semispheric1;v alonse Washer 251s mounted on the extension 24 ofscrew 22 and bears against the shoulder at theupper end of the portion of the screw, the diameter of which is notreduy ed. 1liis;se:nii-spherical washer serves to furnish a hearing' 'against the lower edges of the opening referred to in channel 6, when the screw is screwed upwardly to cause the washer to engage against the underside of channel 6.

The length of the screw 22 up to the end ofuits portion of full diameter is such as to permit the generator to swing away from the axle the maximum desired distance when i 'Crewed down to its lowest position. Then, however, it is desiredto apply or renew the belt 7 the screw is screwed upwardly until washer 25 engagesagainst theiunder surface of channel 6,-as istated fafter which further upward moi s mmer. the screw forces the 7 generator to swingv about its. pivot a toward the car axle, against the resiistan'ce of spring 12 and of -gravity. Jr fter the belt has been reneweduthe, screwaist again turned to its lowest positionand thereafter the extension Q tyrherelyslides through the. hole in the channelnas the generator swingsback and forth until the next occasion for renewing the belt-Li. 7

The constructionshown in 5 to S inclusive be substantially th same as that previously described except in regard to the tensionspring and-its mounting.

The spring 12 is a coiledtension spring which is wound under stress so that ape proximately the minimuin. tension desired incaction is required to start the coils of the spring apart, springs wound with initial tension being .well known.

-, ,A 'sp ring of thischara'cter has various features which are advantageous for the use here described. Since the coils of the spring arelpractica-lly incontact with each other at the beginning of movement of the generator towards ,the axle, it is obvious that less space will be required to accommodate a givenrnumber of turns than would be required if it were necessary to stretchthe coils apartto. attain the initial tension. Also since the length or the spring when released is only slightly less than its minimum length in action wit is unnecessary to [provide a screw for placing the spring under tension. Hence;-i tis poss'ible to apply the spring by swinging the generator a slight distance back of its normalinaxinium. distance from the axle and dropping the spring in place, with a trunnion,v or the like, vat. the lower endwof the spring seated- ,Within. siiitable notches 'or seats on a bracket securedv to the generator. A :As ishownin Figs'.- 5 to i8 of the drawings; the upper end of. 'theispring may be mounted-bymeans' of a hook 15 as spring, however is out off Without forming ice any loop in the same, a trunnion member 26 being provided having a stem portion 27 which is provided with external screw threads of the same pitch as the spring, this stem portion being adapted to be screwed into the lower end of the spring. This trunnionmember is provided with cylindrical extensions 28, 28, transverse to the axis of the spring, these extensions being adapted to rest against curved seats 29, which are formed on the bracket 19 secured to the generator, these seats facing downwardly. The spring is mounted in position by swinging back the generator, away from the car'axle, beyond its normal range of movement, until the extensions 28 of the trunnion can be slipped underneath the notches or seats 29. Thereafter extensions 28 of the trunnion member will be held in position within seats 29 both by the weight of the generator and by the pull exerted by the belt on the generator pulley .8.

It will be noted that the construction described permits adjustment of the tension spring 12 in accordance with whether the stem 27 of the trunnion member is screwed a greater or less distance into the convolu tions of the spring before the spring is secured to the generator.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited strictly to the details of construction described but is as broad as is indicated by the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a generator suspension, the combination of a car body, a generator adapted to be belt-driven from the car axle, a pivotal support for the generator beneath the car body, and a spring connected to said generator and car body, so arranged as to tend to swing the, generator around its pivotal point away from the car axle, and so that its tension is in a substantial degree opposed to the weight of the generator.

2. In a generator suspensiointhe combination of a car body, a generator adapted to be belt-driven from the car axle, a pivotal support for the generator beneaththe car body, from which the generator is suspend ed, anda spring extending downwardly at a steep angle from a connection with the car bodyabove said pivotal support to a connection with said generator at the side thereof away from the car axle, said spring tending to swing the generator around its pivotal point away from the car axle, and a substantial component of the force of the spring acting upwardly, to reduce the load on said pivotal support.

3. In a generator suspension, the combination of a car body, a generator adapted to be belt-driven from the car axle, a pivotal support for thegenerator beneath the car, and a spring connected to said generator, so arranged as to tend to swing the generator around its pivotal point away from the car axle, said spring being wound under initial stress, so that approximately the minimum tension desired in operation is required to start the coils apart.

4, In a generator suspension, the combination of a support, a generator pivotally suspended thereupon and adapted to swing towards and away from an axle from which it is adapted to-be driven, spring means tending to swing said generator away from said axle, and a screw jack connected to said generator and adapted, when operated, to

force said generator to swing towards said axle.

5. In a generator suspension, the combination of a support, a generator pivotally suspended thereupon and adapted to swing towards and away from an axle from which it is adapted to be driven, spring means tending to swing said generator away from said axle, a sleeve pivotally secured to said generator, and a screw threaded into said sleeve and having a bearing surface thereon adapted to contact against said support when said screw is screwed outwardly of said sleeve, to force the generator to swing towards said axle.

6. In a generator suspension, the combina tion of a support having an opening therein, a generator pivotally suspended from said support and adapted to swing towards and away from an axle from which it'is adapted member on said screw adapted to act as a bearing to engage against the edge of said opening when said screw is screwed outwardly of said sleeve, to force the generator to swing towards said axle.

7. In a generator suspension, the combination of a car body, agenerator adapted to be belt-driven from the car axle, a pivotal support for the generator beneath the car body, a spiral spring tending to swing said generator around its pivotal point away from the car axle, and connections between said car body and generator, including a threaded plug adapted to be screwed into theconvolutions of the spring at one end thereof, said plug having trunnion portions extending transversely to the threaded portion, and means providing seats in which sald trunnion portions may be seated.

8. In a generator suspension, the combination with the car body to said bracket adapted to swing the generator around its pivotal point away from the car axle, the

arrangement being such that the efiecti-ve lever arm towhich the spring pull is applied decreases and the tension of the spring increases as the generator swings towards the aXle.

9'. The combination of a railway car, a generator pivotally supported beneath the car, a belt driving the generator from the car axle, and a spring tending to swing said generator about its pivotal support and tending to maintain the belt taut, said spring extending downwardly at an angle greater than 45 to the horizontal so that it removes the weight of the generator from its pivotal support to a substantial degree.

10. The combination of a railway car, a generator pivotally supported beneath the car, a belt driving the generator from the caraxle, and a spring tending to swing said generator about its pivotal support away from the axle and a pivotally mounted jack, operation ofwhich forces the generator toward the car axle to permit of easy placing of the belt inoperative position.

11. The combination ota railway car, a generator pivotally supported beneath the car, a belt driving the generator from the car axle, and a spring tending to swing said generator about its pivotal support away from the car axle, and a screw jack carried with the generator and pivotally mounted with respect thereto, operation 'ofwhich forces the generator toward the car axle to permit of easy placing of the belt in operative position.

Signed at Depew, in the county of Erie and State of New York, this 27th day of October A. D. 1921.

ELI J. BLAKE. 

